[JOY POV]
I left him there. I was hurting so much on the inside. We need to have space to sort this out again. I glanced back at JC; he was still there sitting in front of the moon. I sincerely hoped he was alright. I still care for him after all this time, but some things are just meant to come to an end.
Near the resort building, I noticed that Chris was now sitting alone. I thought immediately of Lance. I hope that he's fine. He might just be getting something to drink, I told myself.
I went back to my room, I spent at least an hour crying, not because of the confessions JC made but because I remembered how much we keep the pain inside us just for the sake of our friendship. Now we said everything, our final closure. I just don't know how we're going to face each other tomorrow or in the future. I just hope that it's for the better and not for the worse.
Until now, I still want our friendships to last.
I feel so sorry. After my tears have stopped. I rested for the night everything took its toll on me.
~~~
I woke up but the pain is still there. I went out of the room and looked for my friends. JR and Chris are in the lobby with their bags ready. They were waiting for us, I think, but why are we leaving so early?
JR ran to me.
"I wanted to wake you up," he said. "Have you seen them?" he asked.
"Who? No, I didn't see anyone," I replied.
"Oh my God! where are they?" JR exclaimed. "They're missing!"
I'm aware of the only two people who were not with us right now. Chris is looking outside like a person who just lost someone so dear to him.
A few minutes later, the receptionist ran to JR.
"Sir, the bellman said they left early this morning, they were fetched by a black Benz," the hotel staff said.
I very much know whose car it was.
I know why JC chose to leave. He did not want us to see each other after last night, it would just cause both of us much pain.
But the bigger question is, why would Lance leave?
[Chris POV]
It ended that fast. He left me. I know it'll come to this. Can I even say goodbye to him?
~~~
The night was calm, we were looking at the stars. The moon was on our side. My moon was on my side. I cannot be any happier, but I must tell him. This was my last chance. I cannot delay it anymore. I have to face it.
"Lance…" I called his name.
He looked at my eyes. He's so beautiful, this boy is beautiful. His wavy hair, his cute smile, and those kind eyes of his. He always makes me feel the kindness in his heart ever since the time when he competed in the Star and Moon competition. He helped me with the dance. I was absent, I was not taking it seriously. His words made me realize how important life is. He is my savior.
~~~
My dad wanted me to leave. I just have a few years left here. He wanted me to marry some girl in the States for the sake of our company, to expand it. I know that I won't be happy with a girl. That's just not me. I tried to… I dated Pink. She thought she's the queen of everything. I can't stand her. I rebelled. I was chosen to represent our section as the moon. I didn't take the competition seriously.
I was failing everything, my academics, and my teacher told me that if I join, I will have the chance to pass. It's not that I'm dumb or anything. I just thought that if I fail, I might stay here and not marry a random girl. My Dad won't take that excuse, he only got angrier. I forced myself to join the competition. I didn't give effort to it. I was always absent from practices.
One time, I was so late that everyone must have finished rehearsing all the steps for the opening dance. The coach didn't want me to join the opening anymore. I am happy with it, to be honest, but this small boy went to the coach. He offered to teach me.
We didn't talk much, I was bored, but I was just bluntly following him so as not to disappoint him.
Something about this boy amazed me. He seemed to take all my worries away, I slowly realized that I'm following each of his dance steps.
He caught me staring at him.
"I think you're doing good," he said. "If you're not giving your best, then you can't enjoy what's left of life. Do it while it last," he said those few words with a smile.
It changed me completely. I never forgot them ever since.
~~~
Now, it's ending. My time with this boy is over and I have to tell him.
"Lance, I have to tell you something…" I uttered.
"What is it?" he softly spoke.
"Know that I'll keep all my promises and that I will never forget you. You'll stay and always be in my heart." I said.
He replied with a soft smile.
"But Lance… we can't stay like this forever," I spoke.
He gave me a confused look.
"I'm leaving…" There, I said it, finally.
His confusion deepened.
"It's the problem I have been having ever since," I said. "You know what I am… but my dad, he wants me to marry someone for our company…"
His expression changed from confusion to shock. A tear fell from his eyes.
"… I can't refuse… I can't…" tears started to fall from mine. "He threatened to do everything to stop this. He's a powerful man."
"But…," he spoke.
"I need to protect you… you're young and kind, I need to protect that innocence in your eyes. You need to find the right person to love you and who you will love back."
He stood and cried. He faced away from me.
"When is it?... When are you leaving? He said while he tries to hide his face from me. "Can't you do something about it?" He added.
It pained me too much to see him crying. I made the person I love the most cry.
"I can't, I made a deal with dad so I can be with you today," I said while crying.
"When… Chris, when?" he begged.
"Tomorrow, afternoon," I said finally.
He faced me; the crying turned to anger. It's the first time I saw him really angry, but he was still crying.
"Why didn't you tell me?! That's so unfair! You're so selfish! This is not just your problem! It's our problem! I respected you and felt that I'm okay without you telling me what it is that's bothering you these past few months and I'm fine with it…But this is different! You didn't even tell me you're leaving. This is just so unfair!" he shouted.
He then started to walk away from me. I saw it. He was now leaving. I know that it will end like this. I always imagined it to be like this. In my dreams I saw him, I pictured him leaving me… not with hurting but with anger.
That's better. I told myself. At least with that, he will not long for me, and he will love another person. I sacrificed parting with him on good terms just to spend my last days with him. I need to protect him even if that means that he'll hate me. I need to sacrifice everything for him until the end.
"Lance!" I shouted one last time with my voice breaking. It hurt to speak his name.
He stopped. He was standing a few meters away from me.
Then I said it. Finally. Lastly.
"I love you, and I'm sorry."